Landlord Shares Strict Rules for Choosing Tenants: 'No couples with children, no pets, no one under 23?'

A landlord, seeking to avoid the pitfalls of previous rental experiences, has turned to Reddit for advice on establishing stringent rules for prospective tenants.

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Always ask for three rents upfront, one as a deposit, one for the current month, and one for the next month.

The landlord, who is helping a neighbor advertise an apartment, wants to ensure a smooth and secure rental process. They are particularly interested in what questions to ask potential renters and how to select the best candidates, emphasizing the need for a formal contract and a deposit.

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Unfortunately, don't take children. Unfortunately, if a couple with children comes and stops paying, a big problem arises because you can't evict them.

Community members offered a range of suggestions. A common piece of advice is to collect three months' rent upfront: one for a deposit, one for the current month, and one for the following month. This approach aims to mitigate the risk of unpaid rent.

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Animals 0 points too.

Several users strongly advised against renting to individuals with children or pets, citing potential difficulties in eviction processes if payments cease. One experienced landlord recommended avoiding young couples aged 18-23, suggesting that single women or married couples awaiting home purchases are often more reliable. The advice also includes ensuring tenants are employed and clarifying who is responsible for utilities, with a strong preference for the tenant to cover all costs, including maintenance like painting or cleaning if they are smokers.

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My advice is also to avoid young couples aged 18 to 23 because they come to live together after 2-3 months of relationship and break up or cause trouble.